A thoroughly underwhelming evening that will likely finish the Flames for good. Calgary ran up the shots and the chances in the first half of the game because the Widl took so many penalties, but once they got up by two the club pretty much collapsed. In part because the refs evened things up in the second and in part because Calgary tried to sit on the lead for the entire third.

By the end, Calgary's main guns were outchanced at ES and they probably deserved to lose, even though it happened in the coin flip shoot-out.

Is there any sort of statistic that shows the Flames are a better team with AHL players? Since the return of some of the regulars to replace the AHL callups, they seem to be losing. Is this a coincidence of younger players looking to make an impression and actually caring what the outcome is? Or is it something to the effect of regulars getting into the lineup and feeling happy about picking up $227,438.87 paycheque every two weeks (minus taxes after per diem)?

Matt Stajan, Lee Stempniak, Blair Jones and Blake Comeau in the shootout. 1 shootout goal between them (and that goal was by Jones, a player who returned from a 6 week injury tonight!). Two points are mandatory. And you put those guys in the shootout. Christ.

IT'S A SKILLS COMPETITION!!! Put out your most skilled players! It shouldn't have got to that point but Sutter basically threw the shootout away. Pisses me off.